Borescope steering adjustment system and method

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods provided herein. In one embodiment, a borescope system includes a probe to capture images and a display a settings menu, measurements, the images captured by the probe, or any combination thereof. In addition, the borescope system a processor programmed to display a user interface to enable a user to control movement of the probe, adjust settings, navigate menus, make selections, or any combination thereof. The processor is communicatively coupled to the probe, and the display, and is programmed to instruct the borescope to enter a live menu view when an articulation mode is selected from the settings menu. In the live menu view, the processor is programmed to instruct the display to display the images captured by the probe, and to enable a user to control the movement of the probe and adjust articulation sensitivity of the probe while viewing the images on the display.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Under 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/949,010, entitled “BORESCOPE STEERING ADJUSTMENTSYSTEM AND METHOD,” filed on Jul. 23, 2013, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the inspection of equipmentand facilities, and more particularly to borescope systems used for theinspection.

Certain equipment and facilities, such as power generation equipment andfacilities, oil and gas equipment and facilities, aircraft equipment andfacilities, manufacturing equipment and facilities, and the like,include a plurality of interrelated systems, and processes. For example,power generation plants may include turbine systems and processes foroperating and maintaining the turbine systems. Likewise, oil and gasoperations may include carbonaceous fuel retrieval systems andprocessing equipment interconnected via pipelines. Similarly, aircraftsystems may include airplanes and maintenance hangars useful inmaintaining airworthiness and providing for maintenance support.

Certain techniques, such as non-destructive inspection techniques ornon-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, may be used to inspect andfacilitate maintenance of such equipment and facilities. For example, aborescope system may be utilized in an NDT technique to inspect theinternals without disassembly of a wide variety of equipment andfacilities. Specifically, a borescope probe may be inserted into variousopenings of the equipment or facility to provide illumination and/orvisual observations of the internals of the equipment or facility.Accordingly, it would be beneficial to improve the configuration of suchborescope systems, for example, to enable a user to more accurately andefficiently adjust settings as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended tolimit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodimentsare intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of theinvention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms thatmay be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In a first embodiment, a borescope system includes a probe to captureimages and a display a settings menu, measurements, the images capturedby the probe, or any combination thereof. In addition, the borescopesystem includes a processor programmed to display a user interface toenable a user to control movement of the probe, adjust settings,navigate menus, make selections, or any combination thereof. Theprocessor is communicatively coupled to the probe, and the display, andis programmed to instruct the borescope to enter a live menu view whenan articulation mode is selected from the settings menu. In the livemenu view, the processor is programmed to instruct the display todisplay the images captured by the probe, and to enable a user tocontrol the movement of the probe and adjust articulation sensitivity ofthe probe while viewing the images on the display.

In a second embodiment, a tangible non-transitory computer readablemedium storing instructions executable by a processor of a borescopesystem includes instructions to enter a settings menu displayed by adisplay included in the borescope system that further includes a probe,to select an articulation mode of the probe from the settings menu, toautomatically enter a live menu view in response to selection of thearticulation mode, and in the live menu view, to enable a user tocontrol the probe and adjust the articulation sensitivity of the probe.

In a third embodiment, a method includes entering a settings menu,selecting an articulation mode of the borescope system probe from thesettings menu, automatically entering a live menu view, and in the livemenu view, enabling a user to control the borescope system probe andadjust the articulation sensitivity of the borescope system probe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of anon-destructive testing (NDT) system, including a borescope system, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the borescope system of FIG. 1, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating data gathered by the borescopesystem of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for adjusting thearticulation settings of a borescope probe in the borescope system ofFIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a screen view of a settings menu displayed on the borescopesystem of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a screen view of a first embodiment of a live menu viewdisplayed on the borescope system of FIG. 2, in accordance with anembodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a screen view of a second embodiment of a live menu viewdisplayed on the borescope system of FIG. 2, in accordance with anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not bedescribed in the specification. It should be appreciated that in thedevelopment of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering ordesign project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madeto achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presentinvention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended tomean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may apply to a variety ofinspection techniques and systems, including non-destructive testing(NDT) techniques/systems. In some embodiments of an NDT system, aborescope system may be utilized to facilitate testing and/or inspectionof equipment and facilities, such as power generation equipment andfacilities, oil and gas equipment and facilities, and aircraft equipmentand facilities, by providing illumination, visualization, and/or otherdata relating to the internals of the equipment or facilities.

A borescope generally includes a user controllable probe with a cameraand an illumination device. More specifically, a user may control themovement (e.g., articulation) of the probe to illuminate or visuallycapture a desired location within the equipment or facility. In otherembodiments, the borescope may include various other user controllableprobes (i.e., tips) to facilitate x-ray inspection, eddy currentinspection, and/or ultrasonic inspection. To enhance the user's controlof the movement of the probe, the borescope may include field-adjustablesettings, such as articulation sensitivity and articulation mode, whichenable user configuration of the movement of the probe as desired. Asused herein, “field-adjustable settings” describe settings that may beadjusted during operation of the borescope system 14 including remotelyover a network (e.g., a wide area network or a local area network).Accordingly, by providing for field-adjustable settings, such as thearticulation sensitivity and the articulation mode, the borescope systemmay provide a more efficient and detailed inspection of a desiredmachinery or process.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure describes aborescope system including a probe that captures images, and a displaythat displays a settings menu, measurements, the images captured by theprobe, or any combination thereof. In addition, the borescope systemincludes a processor programmed to display a user interface to enable auser to control movement of the probe, adjust settings, navigate menus,make selections, or any combination thereof. The processor iscommunicatively coupled to the probe, and the display, and is programmedto instruct the borescope to enter a live menu view when an articulationmode is selected from the settings menu. In the live menu view, theprocessor is programmed to instruct the display to display the imagescaptured by the probe, and to enable a user to control the movement ofthe probe and adjust articulation sensitivity of the probe while viewingthe images on the display. As will be appreciated by persons of ordinaryskill in the relevant art, the techniques described in the presentdisclosure may be utilized in other NDT systems 10, such as an endoscopesystem.

By way of introduction, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of anon-destructive testing (NDT) system 10. As depicted, the NDT system 10may include one or more NDT inspection devices, such as a borescopesystem 14. In some embodiments, the borescope 14 may be a XL GO+VideoProbe, a XLG3 VideoProbe, XL Vu VideoProbe, or the like, availablefrom General Electric Company, of Schenectady, N.Y. The depictedborescope 14 includes one or more processors 15 and memory 17 that maybe used to facilitate the functionality of the borescope, such asvisually inspecting equipment and facilities. As used herein, a“processor” refers to any number of processor components related to theborescope system 14. For example, in some embodiments, the processor 15may be coupled to and programmed to instruct components of the borescopesystem 14 such as the probe, the display, and the user interface (e.g.,buttons and joystick). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the processor15 may be located locally or remotely, for example, in the “cloud.”

In operation, the borescope 14 may be inserted into a plurality ofaccess ports and other locations of equipment such as turbomachinery 18to provide for illumination and visual observations of a number ofcomponents of the turbomachinery 18, such as the nozzles 20, intake 22,compressor 24, vanes 26, blades 28, wheels 30, shaft 32, diffuser 34,stages 36, 38, and 40, blades 42, shaft 44, casing 46, and exhaust 48.Other types of equipment that the borescope 14 may inspect includecompressors, pumps, turbo expanders, wind turbines, hydroturbines,industrial equipment, residential equipment, and the like. Additionally,the borescope 14 may be used to inspect the facilities, such as an oiland gas facility 50. For example, the borescope 14 may visually inspectoil and gas equipment 52 including the interior of pipes or conduits 54,underwater (or underfluid) locations 56, and difficult to observelocations such as locations having curves or bends 58. While inspectingthe equipment and facilities, the borescope 14 may gather data includingbut not limited to images, video, and sensor measurements, such astemperature, pressure, flow, clearance (e.g., measurement between astationary component and a rotary component), and distance measurements.

The borescope 14 may includes various components such as the onesdepicted in the schematic view of the borescope depicted in FIG. 2. Theborescope system 14 includes an insertion tube 60 suitable for insertioninto a variety of location, such as inside of the turbomachinery 18,equipment 52, pipes or conduits 54, underwater locations 56, curves orbends, and so on. The insertion tube 60 includes a probe section 62, anarticulating section 64, and a conduit section 66. In the depictedembodiment, the probe 60 includes a camera 68, one or more lights 70(e.g., LEDs), and sensors 72. The borescope's camera 68 provides imagesand video suitable for inspection and the lights 70 provide forillumination when the probe 62 is disposed in locations having low lightor no light.

For example, the camera 68 may capture an image or video (e.g., aplurality of time-captured images) 74, which is then displayed on ascreen 76 of the borescope 14. The screen 76 may display menus,measurements, images captured by the probe 62, or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the borescope screen 76 is amulti-touchscreen that uses capacitance techniques, resistivetechniques, infrared grid techniques, and the like. The borescope screen76 includes soft buttons 78 that detect the touch (e.g., activation) ofa stylus and/or one or more human fingers. Additionally, hard buttons 79may be included on the borescope 14 to replace or supplement the softbuttons 78.

The borescope system 14 increases the information displayed byoverlaying certain data onto the image 74. For example, a borescope tipmap may be overlaid on the video to show an approximation of thedisposition of the probe 62 during insertion so as to guide a user tomore accurately position the borescope camera 68. A variety of otheroverlays may be provided including measurement overlays, menu overlays,annotation overlays, and object identification overlays. The image orvideo 74 may then be displayed with the overlays generally displayed ontop of the image or video 74.

In addition to collecting visual data, the borescope 14 may collectother data, such as sensor 72 data. Accordingly, in certain embodiments,the borescope 14 may include a plurality of removable replacement probes80 to facilitate capturing data such as temperature data, distance data,clearance data (e.g., distance between a rotating and a stationarycomponent), flow data, and so on. For example, one replacement probe 80may project a shadow onto the image captured by the probe to indicatedistance. Another replacement probe 80 may utilize a prism to displayboth a right and a left view. Other examples of the replacement probes80 include retrieval tips such as snares, magnetic tips, or grippertips; and cleaning and obstruction removal tools, such as wire brushes,or wire cutters.

One embodiment of the data collected by the borescope 14 is depicted inFIG. 3. As depicted, the image 74 and overlays is separated into two ormore data streams 86 and 88. The data stream 86 may include only overlaydata, while the data stream 88 may include images or video data. In oneembodiment, the images or video data 88 may be synchronized with theoverlay data 86 using a synchronization signal 90. Additionally thesensor data 92 gathered by the sensor 72 may also be synchronized withthe overlay data 86. For example, this enables overlay tip maps to bedisplayed alongside with temperature information, pressure information,flow information, clearance, and so on. Likewise, sensor data 92 may bedisplayed alongside the image or video data 88.

Turning back to FIG. 2, a user controls the articulating section 64with, for example, a physical joystick 94 to move the position of theprobe 62. Accordingly, the articulation sections 64 steers or “bends” invarious dimensions. For example, the articulation section 64 may enablemovement of the probe 62 in an X-Y plane X-Z plane and/or Y-Z plane ofthe depicted XYZ axes 96. Accordingly, the physical joystick 94 may beused to provide control actions suitable for disposing the probe 62 in avariety of angles, such as the depicted angle α. Indeed, probe 62 may bedisposed in any angle α with respect to the XYZ axes 96 to observe adesired location. In this manner, the borescope probe 62 may bepositioned to visually inspect desired locations. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the physical joystick 94 may provide force feedback orhaptic feedback to the user. For example, the joystick 94 may utilizehaptic feedback to communicate that the probe 62 is abutting orcontacting a structure, vibrations felt by the probe 62, force relatedto flows, temperatures, clearances, pressures, articulation sensitivityof the probe 62 and the like. Accordingly, as depicted in FIG. 3, thedata collected by the borescope 14 includes force feedback data 96.

Additionally, the borescope system 14 collects position data 98, objectdata 100, and other types of data 102. For example, the position data 98may include locations of the borescope 14 in relation to equipment 18,and/or facilities 50. Object data 100 may include data related to theobject under inspection. For example, the object data 180 may includeidentifying information (e.g., serial numbers), observations onequipment condition, annotations (textual annotations, voiceannotations), and so on. Other types of data 102 include menu-driveninspection data, which when used provides a set of pre-defined “tags”that can be applied as text annotations and metadata.

As described above, a user may utilize the physical joystick 94 tocontrol the positioning of the probe 62. The borescope system 14includes various settings, such as articulation mode and articulationsensitivity, to enable the user to better control the movement of theprobe 62. One example of a process 104 for configuring the articulationsettings (e.g., mode and sensitivity) of the probe 62 is depicted inFIG. 4. As depicted, the process 104 begins when a settings menu isentered (process block 106). In the settings menu, an articulation modeis selected (process block 108). The articulation mode describes “how”the probe 62 articulates. Once the articulation mode is selected, theborescope 14 automatically enters a live menu view (process block 110).In the live menu view, a user is able to control the movement of theprobe via the articulation section (process block 112) and adjust thearticulation sensitivity of the probe (process block 114) while viewingthe images captured by the probe (process block 116). In other words,process 104 enables the user to adjust articulation settings andimmediately experiment with the results. The articulation sensitivitydescribes the probe's reaction to user controls. Additionally oralternatively, the borescope 14 may enter the live menu view in responseto other indications of the user's desire to adjust the articulationsensitivity of the probe 62. For example, this may include the useractivating a dedicated articulation sensitivity button.

More specifically, an embodiment of a settings menu 118 is depicted inFIG. 5. The settings menu 118 is displayed to a user on the borescopescreen 76, which as described above may be a multi-touchscreen. The usermay interact with the settings menu 118 by selecting various softbuttons with a finger or a stylus. The settings menu 118 may be brokendown into smaller categories to assist the user in locating the desiredsetting. In the depicted embodiment, the settings menu 118 includes aSystem settings menu 120, a Screen & Display settings menu 122, aConnectivity settings menu 124, an Image & Video settings menu 126, anda Measurement & Annotation settings menu 128. The user may navigatebetween each of the menus (e.g., 118-126) by selecting (e.g.,activating) the name of the desired menu from the settings menu 118.

Each menu includes various settings that enable a user to configure theborescope system 14. For example, the depicted System settings menu 120enables the user to upgrade features, export application logs,set/format the time and date, choose an articulation mode, and turnon/off power management. The setting of particular interest in thepresent disclosure is the Articulation Mode setting 130, whichconfigures “how” the probe 62 moves. As depicted, the Articulation Modesetting 130 includes a choice between a Proportional mode 132 and aSteer & Stay mode 134. In both the Proportional mode 132 and the Steer &Stay mode 134, the probe 62 is configured to move based on user inputinto the physical joystick 94. For example, when a user moves thejoystick 94 right, the probe 62 also moves to the right and when theuser moves the joystick 94, the probe 62 also moves up, and so on.However, in a Proportional mode 132, when the user releases the joystick94 (i.e., stops controlling the movement of the probe 62), the probe 62moves back to its neutral or central position. On the other hand, in aSteer & Stay mode, the probe 62 remains in its last position.

When one of the articulation modes (e.g., proportional mode or steer &stay mode) is selected, the borescope automatically enters a live menuview in response, which enables a user to adjust the articulationsensitivity of the probe 62. Embodiments of the live menu view aredepicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. In both embodiments, a live view of theimages 74 captured by the probe 62 is displayed on the borescope screen76. In other words, as the probe 62 moves, the images 74 displayed onthe screen 76 will change accordingly. In addition, while viewing theimages 74, the user may increase and/or decrease the articulationsensitivity of the probe 62. More specifically, the user may increasethe articulation sensitivity of the probe 62 so that the probe will bemore responsive to movements of the joystick 94. On the other hand, theuser may decrease the articulation sensitivity of the probe 62 so thatthe probe will be less responsive to movements of the joystick 94. Inother words, as the articulation sensitivity increases the probe 62moves more in relation to each joystick 94 movement and vice versa. Insome embodiments, this may include utilizing a stepper motor in thearticulation section 64. For example, when the articulation sensitivityis set at 50%, a 1 mm move of the joystick 94 may cause the steppermotor to move five steps in the direction the joystick 94 was moved, andwhen the articulation sensitivity is increase to 60%, a 1 mm move of thejoystick 94 may cause the stepper motor to move six steps in thedirection the joystick 94 was moved.

As described above, the haptic feedback may be provided based on thearticulation sensitivity of probe 62. More specifically, the joystick 94may be stiffer (e.g., more resistant to movement) when the sensitivityis lower to facilitate more precise movement of the probe 62, and looser(e.g., less resistant to movement) when the sensitivity is higher toenable quicker movement of the probe 62.

In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, soft buttons displayed onthe screen 76 are utilized to adjust the articulation sensitivity. Forexample, in FIG. 6, the screen 76 displays a decrease button (−) 136, anincrease button (+) 138, and a Done button 140. The FIGS. 6 and 7 alsodepict an image 139 having features 141. The image 139 (e.g., staticimage or video image) corresponds to a component undergoing observation.The features 141 may correspond to, for example, ridges manufacturedinto the component. In the depicted embodiments, when the decreasebutton 136 is selected, the articulation sensitivity will decrease, andwhen the increase button 138 is selected, the articulation sensitivityincreases. Accordingly, the articulation sensitivity may be adjusted sothat the features 141 may be more easily observed. For example, bydecreasing the articulation sensitivity, a movement of the joystick 94may result in the image 139 shifting a smaller distance more suitable toobserve the features 141 at higher magnification. Likewise, increasingthe articulation sensitivity may provide for faster observations atlower magnifications with less movement of the joystick 94. In otherwords, the articulation sensitivity may be adjusted so that a certainjoystick 94 movement (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 mm or more)corresponds to a larger of smaller movement of the articulation section64 (e.g., 0.05, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 mm or more), and thusmovement of the image.

Similarly, in FIG. 7, the screen 76 displays a slider 142. In thedepicted embodiment, when the slider 142 is slid to the right, thearticulation sensitivity increases, and when the slider is slid to theleft, the articulation sensitivity decreases. For example, moving theslider 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8% or more of the total slider length mayresult in increases or decreases of (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10mm or more) of movement of the articulation section 64 with the sameamount of movement of the joystick 94. As should be appreciated, hardbuttons 79 on the borescope 14 may also be utilized to supplement orreplace the soft buttons (e.g., 136, 138, 140, and 142). By overlayingthe slider 142 (and buttons 136, 138, 140) on the image 139, adjustmentsto the articulation sensitivity may be performed during inspection, andthe results of the adjustments may then be observed. It is to be notedthat other controls may be used in addition to or in lieu of the slider142 and buttons 136, 138, 140. For example, a textbox may be used toenter a desired articulation sensitivity as a numeric value or as apercentage. Likewise, a touch-control dial, selectable preset settings(e.g., “high”, “medium,” and “low”), radio buttons, dropdown menushaving various articulation sensitivity values, and so on, may be used.It is also to be noted that, in another embodiment, the slider 142 maybe displayed vertically or at an angle.

As described above, as the articulation sensitivity is adjusted, theuser can experiment with the adjusted settings to determine whetherfurther adjustment is desired. For example, a user may select theincrease button 138 to increase the articulation sensitivity. After thearticulation sensitivity is increased, the user may test the movement ofthe probe 62 with the increased sensitivity. The user may then decidewhether to adjust the articulation sensitivity further. Once the user issatisfied with the articulation sensitivity, in some embodiments, theuser may select the Done button 140 and return to the settings menu 118.In other embodiments, the user may simply continue using the borescope14 with the articulation sensitivity controls (e.g., 136, 138 and 142)on the screen. In other words, the articulation sensitivity may continueto be adjustable during normal operation of the borescope 14. Forexample, this may enable the user to better navigate tight areas bydecreasing articulation sensitivity and to increase articulationsensitivity to expedite the movement of the probe 14.

Technical effects of the invention include providing systems and methodsthat improve the configuration of a borescope 14. More specifically,adjustments to the settings of the borescope 14 may be tested in a livemenu view. For example, in the live menu view, when the articulationsensitivity of the borescope 14 is increased/decreased, the movement ofthe probe 62 may be tested to determine whether further adjustment isdesired. In other words, embodiments of the present disclosure improvethe efficiency and accuracy of configuring the settings of the borescope14 by enabling the settings to be adjusted in a live view.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A borescope system comprising: a probe configured to capture image data based at least in part on a physical feature proximate the probe; a display configured to: display a settings menu; and display a live menu view when a first articulation setting is selected from the settings menu, wherein, in the live menu view, the display is configured to: display a visual representation of the physical feature based at least in part on the image data captured by the probe; and display a second articulation setting overlaid on the visual representation of the physical feature to enable adjusting the second articulation setting while the visual representation of the physical feature is simultaneously displayed.
 2. The borescope system of claim 1, wherein the probe is configured to: capture first image data when the probe is at a first location; and capture second image data while the borescope system moves the probe from the first location to a second location; and wherein the display is configured to, in the live menu view, display a video by successively displaying a first image based at least in part on the first image data and a second image based at least in part on the second image data.
 3. The borescope system of claim 1, comprising an articulating section coupled to the probe, wherein the articulating section is configured to move the probe in an X-Y plane, an X-Z plane, a Y-Z plane, or any combination thereof.
 4. The borescope system of claim 1, comprising an articulating section coupled to the probe, wherein the second articulation setting controls movement of the articulating section while user inputs instructing the borescope system to move the probe are received, and wherein the first articulation setting controls movement of the articulating section while the user inputs are not received.
 5. The borescope system of claim 1, comprising a physical joystick, wherein the borescope system is configured to receive a user input instructing the borescope system to move the probe when the physical joystick is actuated, and wherein the physical joystick is configured to: increase actuation resistance when the second articulation setting is decreased; and decrease actuation resistance when the second articulation setting is increased.
 6. The borescope system of claim 1, wherein the first articulation setting comprises an articulation mode, wherein the articulation mode comprises a steer & stay mode, a proportional mode, or a combination thereof; and the second articulation setting comprises an articulation sensitivity, wherein increasing the articulation sensitivity decreases amount the probe moves in response to a user input; and decreasing the articulation sensitivity increase amount the probe moves in response to the user input.
 7. The borescope system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch sensitive display.
 8. The borescope system of claim 7, wherein the touch sensitive display is configured to display the settings menu with a first soft button associated with a first articulation mode and a second soft button associated with a second articulation mode, wherein the first articulation setting comprises one of the first articulation mode or the second articulation mode; and wherein the borescope system is configured to detect selection of the first articulation mode when an object contacts the touch sensitive display at one of a first location associated with the first soft button or a second location associated with the second soft button.
 9. The borescope system of claim 1, comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the probe and the display, wherein the processor is programmed to process the image data captured by the probe to generate processed image data; and to instruct the display to display the visual representation of the physical feature based at least in part on the processed image data.
 10. A non-destructive testing system, comprising: an insertion tube, wherein the insertion tube comprises: a probe section with a camera configured to generate image data based at least in part on a feature proximate the camera; and an articulation section coupled to the probe section, wherein the articulation section is configured to articulate to facilitate adjusting location of the camera; and a touch-sensitive display configured to: display a visual representation of the feature proximate the camera based at least in part on the image data generated by the camera; and display a soft button associated with a setting of the articulation section overlaid on the visual representation of the feature, wherein the soft button is configured to adjust the setting while the visual representation of the feature is simultaneously displayed.
 11. The non-destructive testing system of claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to detect a user input based at least in part on capacitive interaction with an object contacting a screen of the touch-sensitive display.
 12. The non-destructive testing system of claim 10, comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to detect a user input when an object contacts the touch-sensitive display at a location associated with the soft button; and wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the setting of the articulation section based at least in part on the user input.
 13. The non-destructive testing system of claim 12, wherein the processor is programmed to increase articulation sensitivity of the articulation section when the user input is detected.
 14. The non-destructive testing system of claim 12, wherein the processor is programmed to decrease articulation sensitivity of the articulation section when the user input is detected.
 15. The non-destructive testing system of claim 10, comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the touch-sensitive display, wherein the soft button comprises a slider, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to detect a user input when an object contacts and moves along the touch-sensitive display at a location associated with the slider, and wherein the processor is programmed to: increase articulation sensitivity of the articulation section when the user input moves in a first direction along the slider; and decrease articulation sensitivity of the articulation section when the user input moves in a second direction along the slider.
 16. The non-destructive testing system of claim 10, wherein the non-destructive testing system comprises a borescope, an endoscope, or both.
 17. A method for operating a non-destructive inspection system, comprising: receiving, using one or more processors included in the non-destructive inspection system, image data generated by a camera coupled to a distal end of an insertion tube; instructing, using the one or more processors, an electronic display to display one or more images based at least in part on the image data generated by the camera; instructing, using the one or more processors, the electronic display to display a graphical user interface overlaid on the one or more images to simultaneously display the graphical user interface and the one or more images; and adjusting, using the one or more processors, an articulation setting of the insertion tube when the electronic display detects that an object is contacting the electronic display at a location on the graphical user interface associated with the articulation setting.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the image data comprises: receiving first image data generated by the camera at a first time, and receiving second image data generated by the camera at a second time; and the method comprises instructing the electronic display to display one or more images comprises instructing the electronic display to display a video by successively displaying a first image based at least in part on the first image data and a second image based at least in part on the second image data.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the articulation setting comprises adjusting the articulation setting at a third time between the first time and the second time; and wherein the method comprises instructing the electronic display to display the video comprises instructing the electronic display to successively display the first image and the second image to facilitate determining effect adjustment to the articulation setting has on movement of the camera.
 20. The method of claim 17, comprising generating processed image data by processing the image data received from the camera to facilitate improving perceived image quality, wherein instructing the electronic display to display the one or more images comprises instructing the electronic display to display the one or more images based at least in part on the processed image data. 